Emotions + Expressive Writing
Since I’ve learned that our repressed negative emotions can adversely affect our health, I’m trying to be mindful of the different emotions that I feel. Sometimes when I am feeling triggered or flooded with some emotions, it is helpful for me to sit down and type up my thoughts. I’ve been learning different expressive writing techniques and the other night I had an opportunity to try one out.
The process for this is to reflect on how you feel, how others may feel, and then take positive action. What makes this so powerful is taking the time to pause and think, before reacting. Taking the time to process helps us to respond with confidence and love instead of reacting out of fear or frustration.
What’s happening: It is almost 11:00 PM at night, I’m tired and I want to go to bed. Anna just got home from a musical performance, she has been to rehearsals and up late every night this past week, getting up early for school, there is a lot of sickness going around and she needs her sleep. She stops by Ken’s office and sits down to watch the rest of the Patriots game and a college volleyball game on his two computer screens. I head down to chat about the performance and suggest that we all head to bed. They say the games will be over soon and they’ll be up then. I go back upstairs.
I feel: Annoyed and worried. I wanted everyone to be in bed a half hour ago. I want to say, who cares about the games, come to bed now. I’m worried that Anna might get sick if she continues to not get enough sleep.
They probably feel: Happy and excited. They are watching these two games together, not worried about lack of sleep, just enjoying the moment.
Positive action: I decide to let it go. They’ll come up soon and she’ll get the rest she needs, she can sleep in tomorrow. I call down and say I’m going to bed, please go to bed as soon as possible and I get in bed. They come to bed soon after.
In the past, I might have tried to control the situation and push my frustrations and concerns on them, explaining that Anna needs her sleep. Taking the time to consider my feelings and also what they may have been feeling helped me to let go of my negative thoughts and emotions and have a more positive and peaceful response.
This simple and mindful process can be helpful to your mental and emotional health and your relationships too. Sometimes the positive action will involve releasing control with grace or standing up for yourself with confidence or setting boundaries with love. I hope this helps you on your journey to a healthier mind, healthier body and healthier relationships too!